BBC To Invest £500K In Northern Multimedia

The BBC plans to make £500,000 available to commission up to four new pilots of interactive content for CBeebies and CBBC.

Peter Salmon (BBC North's Director-designate) announced the new initiative called '@North' at the Manchester Media Festival on the 18th of November.

He said,

"It's a new concept for the BBC, a new way of working and - with up to four CBBC commissions up for grabs - a new commitment to producing groundbreaking content inspired by the North of England but loved by everyone.

"Firstly, it's come about through partnerships and will be run in collaboration with the regional screen agencies: Northwest Vision and Media, Northern Film & Media and Screen Yorkshire.

"Secondly, this is a very real, very tangible, investment in the North.

"We have allocated the money. We have published the guidelines. We have given everyone a blank sheet of paper. And now it's up to the creative teams from Newcastle to Crewe to blow us away with some fantastic ideas. The BBC can be the platform that shares the brilliant work already being done across the North with audiences throughout the UK.

"Thirdly, it's about bringing together editorial and technology - something we want to be second nature at our new base.

"And finally, it is a chance for the BBC to be more open, more collaborative, and to support the wider media sector with training, technical infrastructure and audience insight that will leave a lasting legacy in the digital economy of the North."